[inaudible] i might just wait for good afternoon, welcome to the committee of the 118th congress. I am pleased to welcome all of you here for this testimony on the military and civilian personnel programs at the department of defense, and the military services and review of the Administration Defense authorization request for fiscal 2024. All of my brothers served in the military, supporting the military, a military families means a lot to me. I am particularly pleased to be chair in my first hearing as an Armed Services subcommittee chair. I am honored to chair at the subcommittee, and i look forward to continuing its long history of bipartisanship and working as a partner with Ranking Member scott, and with all of our members, on both sides of the aisle, to improve the lives of our Service Members, of retirees, military families, and the civilian workforce. Our annual posture here provides the department the opportunity to discuss their personal priorities for the coming year. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the all volunteer force. And todays hearing, i would like to focus on welcoming young people into the military, how we support families who continue to serve and have military contributes to our communities. The Administrations NationalDefense Strategy gets that exactly right and prioritizing Service Members. We must do this to address one of the militarys greatest challenges, the ongoing struggle to recruit goals. This year, only the marine corps and the space course our media never coding targets. Meanwhile, the army is set to miss its target by tens of thousands of soldiers. The navy has recently lowered its requirements and standards for many up radiance in order to address them anticipate shortfalls. The most direct way to address the shortfall is to ensure that were taking care of military personnel and their families. This is just as much a readiness issue as our supply of tanks and missiles and material to fight on land and at sea. So, were to start . Well, i have one war that i want to propose with the subcommittee, including protecting and enhancing health care, continuing to build on senator gillibrands leadership, and addressing Sexual Assault, and combatting the corrosive impacts of the revolving door between Senior Pentagon officials, and defense contractors, and foreign governments. They also look forward to working with the readiness subcommittee to be certain that u. S. Military families are not to living in on safe, and unsanitary housing conditions. Upton extensively must get of work here, and i have worked on the Committee Members on bipartisan legislation. For todays hearing, i have picked three items to begin with. Access to childcare, medical data, and Junior Reserve Officers training, or jay rotc. First childcare. Accessing childcare remains a problem for all families, military and civilian. We must modernize and improve the way that d. O. D. Ensures that Service Members and their families have access to childcare. I am happy to work with any member of the committee, democrat or republican, who has good, smart, Creative Ideas on how to do that. Second, i want to take a good hard look at medical data, and how it affects both members of the military, and civilians. I want to ask specifically about implementation of my amendments, along with waukee castro, to the 2021 national Defense Authorization act, to provide d. O. D. The authority to wave civilian deaths from military hospitals. This is a bill that was intended to keep our doctor sharp without sticky patients with big private bills. I wont get to cover today, but i am also concerned about Service Members who have tried care, but who still get stuck with medical bills that theyre expected to pay on their own. Finally, i have questions about the Junior Reserve Officers training program, or jay rotc. Particularly about reports of Sexual Assault, of our children. We have much to do to better support military families. I look forward to working on these issues and many more. I will now turn to Ranking Member scott for his comments to open this hearing. Thank, you thank you barbara, scott. Thank. You know this is the first meeting at the personal subcommittee of this congress. Let me begin by saying i very much looking forward to working with secretary, or senator, orrin. As we continue the bipartisan tradition of the Armed Services committee, developing the national Defense Authorization act. Im on four committees, and this is my for subcommittee to be the Ranking Member of. I would like to say that the Armed Services committee is a committee that works well together. I think were going to continue to do a great job in the national Defense Authorization act this year. Every member here as united in supporting our men and women in uniform, and their families. The subcommittee has a long history of prioritizing the wellbeing, and morale of Service Members. Im eager to be continuing that work as the new Ranking Member. Today the military faces, as we all, know recruiting crisis. If Current Trends continue, the army and navy will fail to receive their missions this year. The armynavy looked like they missed the mark over 10,000 records each. This will be the only other time in history that it is meeting the recruiting mission. The is unprecedented, in the years have the all volunteer force, the subcommittee is making to do whatever we can to fix it. Im concerned that in the midst of this environment, the lower the standards. We see this with disastrous results. Im ndp veteran myself. I joined at the age of 18. Ive probably done more clean thats a latrines than i did being a writer man. Im also the son of a wobble to a veteran, who fought, he was one of 3000 people who did all four of combat jumps with the airport. He also thought the night of the bulge. I know that a new job in the military is easy. When as ship catches fire, every sailor must know how to respond to save lives. When Elizabeth Sanders drop below certain levels, we have seen increase morale. This is a company by lower units and readiness. These are not acceptable outcomes. We have to use this to avoid mistakes. The good news says, the difficulties recruiting is right, now were tension levels are generally high. That means once people join the military, they tend to like it i want to stay. Military families have high retention rates. This is important by d. O. T. Surveys that report married Service Members with children have the highest levels of satisfaction with the military way of life. We have to ask ourselves why is there such a disconnect between birch crude in struggles, and retention successes. What can we do to push back up. As we continue working to ensure our Service Members in the families enjoy high quality of life in the military, we can do more to share their stories with the rest of the country. Effective use of marketing and advertising must be a priority right now. We need to resource at accordingly. The department offense should also be an advocate for the many benefits that come with services. For example, we know that veterans have higher unemployment, rates higher homeownership, marriage, entertainment achievement. Military service thats young men and women in the past hookup via, when you want people to know that. So we have major issues facing our military, in the subcommittees ready to tackle them. Thats why it was excited to take the position as Ranking Member, because there are real issues, like housing, childcare, and health care that demand or attention. These arent republican and democrat, issues there are things that these committee, hasnt this continue to work on. On a personal basis, so that military members and families are taken care. Of this committee did this last congress, to better protect against, and prevent, Sexual Assault. Working together on these issues allow us to best serve those who protect our nation. That is why i was incredibly disappointed when i finally received secretary prepared statements of several witnesses last night attempt pm. He found that a major focus at the pentagon, im sure, probably there to the white house, was prioritizing the ei. They say that cultural war issues i wrote that the importance that we have a workplace, whether the military or elsewhere, where people come to their jobs with up without it being disrespected or discriminated against, but when it comes to our armed forces, the top question should be, as every person who wants to join solely focused on the mission, to intimidate the out of our enemies, and defeat them if necessary. Its not about any diversity quotas being the most lethal on the planet, because the folks that wear the uniform are fighters, devoted to protecting american values, putting that above all of us. Our commanders now, this and im greatly concerned that if this administration is forcing them to move away from nuts, to achieve some diversity about the american military. World have talking points with yeah, the statements, some 26 pages, let me make sure ive got, at some 26 pages, does not get to recruiting, tell page 20 of the statement. Instead, topics like abortion, and diversity, equity, inclusion, are dressed in those first 20 pages. I dont understand why the department feels its necessary to change the culture of the military by, quote, adi diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility principles across the department efforts. As a veteran, as a rotc commissioned officer, as a former member of the air force reserve, i can tell you that the United States military has been decades ahead of the rest of our society and inclusion. Ive said publicly, many times, the United States military is the greatest Civil Rights Program in the history of the world, and im proud that they have been ahead of our society on that. When some of my colleagues criticize the department from this place of priorities this is a concern i have as a Ranking Member, of what theyre talking about. With regard to junior rotc, and my home state of mississippi, the program is a pillar in the development of future leaders. Over the years, and passed legislation to expand the number of j r t c units, as a part of the nda. To increase funding in veterans that are eligible to be a junior rotc instructor. Junior are tc helps our nations and highschoolers reach more of their full potential to become successful citizens. A report, it found, i quote, there is consensus that jay are otc participation has both academic and non academic benefits for students, unquote. According to this very comprehensive and scholarly report, most of these got economically disadvantaged schools. And the day rotc provides, quote, volunteer opportunities to benefit the larger community, unquote. My conversations with superintendents, principles, and parents, when i asked if you would like to have junior rotc and your school, ive never run into a superintendent, or principle that sad other than yes, im very much glad we have junior rotc, or i would like to have a junior rotc program. This moment presents us with an opportunity to address the claim in recent news articles about j. R. R. Tc. This reporting suggests that jay rotc and structures probe committed Sexual Misconduct at much higher rates incivilities. I very much doubt that assertion. There is simply no Data Available to support that. Sexual misconduct for students is never acceptable. The jay rotc program understands. This every instance of misconduct involving jay rotc, the military, immediately expelled the instructor. I will also say that this. Junior rotc makes an easy target in this area, because the department of defense is a central repository of information, and is subject to strict oversight. So there is a lot of information about generosities. On the other hand, the other information on Public School systems is diffuse, since the systems are large, sprawling, and d. C. Intra lies. We know School Districts are not publicly disclosed cases. A teacher Sexual Misconduct. Thats just a fact. It is such a problem that last, year the department of education released a report on the issue and found only 20 states have eyes on the books that prohibit suppressing information regarding school Sexual Misconduct. We dont get all the facts. No one would suggest that we do away with Public School simply because there is some misconduct on the part of a very few members of the faculty. If anything, there is every reason to believe that junior rotc as a safer environment than others for our future leaders. Junior rotc instructors receive twice the screening, twice the screening of a normal teacher before they enter the classroom. Both in the military, and the school district. Given this extra scrutiny, im highly skeptical of the idea that jay rotc instructors are more likely to commit misconduct. Congress should be mindful of the highly positive, highly positive impact of junior rotc. In fact, to celebrate on both sides of the aisle. Im this, committee my colleague from massachusetts has that senator warren is to be thanked for raising this issue. It is taken substantive and helpful interest in charities y. As she reenters the, room i think over that. I will carry our shared work forward by introducing additional legislation this year which would further expand junior rotc to the hundreds of schools that are currently on the waiting list for program. We hope to have many partners in this, effort and i look forward to working with senator warren, and the Ranking Member, senator scott, as we approach this years and dna. Thank, you madam chair. So, to our witnesses, thank you for appearing. We have two panels today, the first panel consists of officials from the office of the secretary of defense who will cover the full range of military and civilian personnel programs. The honorable under secretary of defense, dr. Lester martinez, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, miss sean skelly assistant secretary at the defense for readiness, mr. Tom constable, acting assistant secretary of defense for man power reserve affairs, and Miss Elizabeth foster, executive director, offices of resiliency. Welcome to all of you. Appreciate your being here. The second panel will consist of the assistant secretaries in the military departments for man power in reserve at the fares. Well have miss agnes schaffer, assistant secretary of the army, mr. Franklin parker, assistant secretary of the navy, and mr. Alex wagner, assistant secretary of the air force. Again, thank you all for appearing here. Undersecretary i understand that youre going to deliver an Opening Statement on behalf of the first panelist. Is that right . Then you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you. Chairwoman, to significant piece of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss that departments greatest, rains are people. On behalf of the entire team, i think the committee for your support a 2. 3 million active and reserve component Service Members, and over 900,000 civilians defend our nation, and the families who serve alongside them. This year is an especially momentum as well as the 50th anniversary of the all volunteer force. Both of these events are senator even taking care of our people and that are foundational to all the efforts. Promote the health, wellbeing, and safety of the force and families. Cultivate Talent Management, and its advanced or teacher readiness. Judging the department, trust is key to preserving our all volunteer force. We think congress for its support to provide the full support for this budget request, and supported the recommendations of the independent review committee on Sexual Assault in the military. We are making progress towards implementation all approved irc recommendations, and your support for this budget requests, will fill the specialized prevention personnel defense opportunity, remove barriers, and ensure barriers with dignity and respect. With regard to the health of albion of the families, the global pandemic, economic pressures, and the operational temple makes it more important than ever to take care of our people. Thanks to congress support, our Congress Members received a 4. 6 basic pay raise at the beginning of this year. That fy 29 president s budget, for 2024. These pay races are critical for recruiting and retaining the all volunteer force. Secretary austin directed the creation of the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee to conduct a comprehensive review. This committees report was published in late february, in the department is carefully reviewing the recommendations. Every death by suicide is a tragedy, and in the military community we are tackling these issues with the focus attention and dedication. With regard to cultivating Talent Management, recruiting challenges will galvanize future